Installed Linux Mint a few months ago and have been dual booting. Hardly use Windows at all now.

Linux is exactly what an OS should be.

What is the highest spec pc I am likely to find for sale when people realise it cant go to windows 11?

I've had windows update disabled for years so the fact that it's "end of life" don't mean shit to me. It'll keep chugging along for years more.

That said, I installed Mint a week ago and love it!

How many laptops do you own lol?

TMP 2.0 released in October 2014, so I don't think that you can find particularly powerful systems up for grabs.

Unless the requirements have changed, you’re looking at 2016-2017 era. Intel 7000-series, AMD Ryzen 1000-series. Newer may be available if there’s no TPM installed.

I just rage-downgraded back to 10 a couple days ago. is there any reason why I shouldn't just keep using it after this year? are we ever going to see a risk for zero day exploits for it like happened for XP after it depreciated?

The only time I use Windows is for Fusion 360

Not that I have a strong opinion one way or the other but Linux people's lack of self awareness or discretion has hurt its spread more than Microsoft has.

Having a teensyweensy bit of occupation with image goes a really long way

is there any reason why I shouldn’t just keep using it after this year?

You mean aside from all the reasons not to use Windows that applied even before deprecation? 'Cause there are a fuck-ton of those.

GNU! GNU!

Unironically, yes. I was already aware of those and take them into account

The obvious conclusion is that Windows 10 is not fit for purpose in your business environment and the person in charge of IT procurement dun goofed picking it in the first place.

wishful thinking. i mean i get where the sentiment is coming from, but normal users are going to have a lot of problems if they make that switch. especially if they need particular types of software.

Critically, the people who build these machines don't typically update drivers to port them to a new OS. You buy a piece of heavy equipment, investing tens, or maybe even a hundred thousand dollars, and there's an OS it works on, maybe two if you're lucky. The equipment hopefully works for at least 20 years, and basically no OS is going to maintain that kind of compatibility for that long. Linux might get the closest, but I'll bet you're compiling/patching your own kernels before 20 years is up.

This kind of dynamic is unavoidable when equipment vendors sell equipment which has a long usable life (which is good), and don't invest in software support (which is them being cheap, to an extent), and OSes change enough that these time horizons likely involve compatibility-breaking releases.

Honestly yes, this entire campaign is absolutely stupid.

I wish I could make parts in FreeCAD anywhere close to as good as I can in Fusion 360... I REALLY miss it since the move to Linux. I'm not anywhere near as excited about my 3D printer anymore since designing parts is a slog and the end result I am generally un-proud of. I feel like my only option (which sucks) is buy a second GPU for pass through and install windows 10 in a VM that only touches the internet once every 2 weeks to keep Fusion happy.

If you find yourself not wanting to switch, there are third party options for patching. I'm going to try zero patch, but I have no experience with them to date.

Because mass recommending Linux to people with absolutely no nuance whatsoever is exactly why Linux users are seen as obnoxious and annoying. Not only does the website make no attempt to properly explain Linux it doesn't clearly outline its usecase. Its the very definition of the Linux user stereotype, blasted right in front of your face, reposted everywhere, and with a simple INSTALL LINUX and EVEYONE CAN INSTALL LINUX.